Paris, 13 July 2023 (TDI): North Macedonia is set to receive a visit from Laurence Boone, the Minister of State for Europe, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, along with her German counterpart, Anna Lührmann, and her Polish counterpart, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, on July 17 and 18, 2023.

The visit holds significant importance as it reinforces France and the European Union’s unwavering support for North Macedonia’s integration into the EU.

This visit comes precisely one year after the inaugural EU-North Macedonia Intergovernmental Accession Conference, which took place on July 19, 2022.

Building upon the Minister of State’s previous visit to Skopje in November, the upcoming visit aims to strengthen the partnership between North Macedonia, France, and the EU.

Minister Boone will engage in crucial meetings with prominent figures in North Macedonia’s political landscape during her stay.

She is scheduled to meet with the President of North Macedonia, the Macedonian Prime Minister, and the Minister for European Affairs.

In addition, discussions will be held with the parliamentary president and members of parliamentary groups representing both the majority and the opposition.

The primary focus of these meetings will be to address the next steps in North Macedonia’s accession process and the necessary reforms required to initiate the active phase of membership negotiations.

The discussions will revolve around the progress made since the EU-North Macedonia Intergovernmental Accession Conference and the specific areas where further efforts are required to align with EU standards.

North Macedonia has been actively working towards EU integration, implementing reforms in various sectors, including governance, rule of law, and economy.

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The visit by Minister Boone, along with her German and Polish counterparts, underscores the significance attached to North Macedonia’s aspirations and the commitment of France and the EU to support the country’s European integration journey.

The presence of high-level representatives from France, Germany, and Poland demonstrates the collective effort of EU member states to ensure a successful accession process for North Macedonia.

The discussions and exchanges of ideas during the visit are expected to contribute to the ongoing progress in North Macedonia’s accession process, paving the way for a future of closer ties between North Macedonia and the European Union.

 

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